The ill-treatment of Palestinian minors held within the Israeli military detention system is “widespread, systematic and institutionalised,” according to a report released by the United Nations Children’s Fund.

UNICEF’s 22-page report examines the Israeli military court system for holding Palestinian children and found evidence of practices it said were “cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment.” It concludes with outlining 38 recommendations to improve the protection of children in custody.

Over the past decade, Israeli forces have arrested, interrogated and prosecuted around 7,000 Palestinian children aged between 12 and 17, most of them boys, the report said, noting the rate was equivalent to “an average of two children each day.”

“In no other country are children systematically tried by juvenile military courts that, by definition, fall short of providing the necessary guarantees to ensure respect for their rights,” it said.

The vast majority of arrests are for throwing stones, which is considered an offence under Section 212 of Military Order 1651.